Zimbabwe in Lockdown:
COVID-19 & Human Rights
from a community perspective
3.0.CASE FILES
• Mudzi North, Mashonaland East: A little compassion and a human face would have not
resulted in a death. In a sad incident an eight year boy collapsed after he was reportedly
intimidated by some army officers who were providing security during the First Lady’s visit in
Mudzi North. The young boy collapsed and was pronounced dead on admission at Kotwa
Hospital.
• Mutasa South, Manicaland: On 21 April, it was reported that the Mutasa South legislator was
arrested for distributing mealie. Regai Tsunga the Member of Parliament for Mutasa South
Constituency and member of MDC Alliance was arrested by the police in Palmerston low
density suburb ward 11 Mutare Central. This was against the background of extreme stress
and hunger during the coronavirus lockdown which had led to starvation as many people were
failing to make ends meet. The legislator was then charged for contravening Statutory
Instrument 83/2020 in a suspected political motivated arrest as other legislators had been
doing similar programmes in their areas and were not arrested.
• Nyameni Ward 8, Marondera, Mashonaland East: On 13 April during the lockdown, it was
reported that, an MDC Ward Councillor was assaulted by a police officer in Marondera in
Nyameni. It is alleged that, Councillor Dzvuke (41) sustained injuries after he was assaulted as
he was distributing sanitizers at a borehole. It was recorded that the Ward Councillor was
explaining to the army of his duties as a Ward Councillor when a police officer assaulted him.
The police said to Dzvuke, "vanhu veMDC magara munonetsa" translated to “MDC members
are problematic”). It took army personnel to intervene and stop the police officer from
assaulting Dzvuke. He sustained bruises during the assault.
• Kuwadzana Paddocks Ward 9 and 10: Harare: Zanu PF political commissar Mr. Guta of
Kuwadzana constituency went around Kuwadzana paddocks telling perceived Zanu PF
supporters to register their names with ruling party chairperson Mr. Mukazika to get
government food assistance under the COVID19 State fund. On 1 April 2020, Guta toured
ward 9 and 10 encouraging devoted ruling party members to check if their names still existed
under the party’s cell structures at branch level. Most residents who do not participate in ruling
party programs were not included in the process.
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HUMAN RIGHTS
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